Ryan Grant — Dorsey Levens Reincarnated?

Some interesting thoughts on Ryan Grant from Brett Favre, Mike McCarthy and…Ryan Grant. A CBS Sportsline post on the Ryan Grant player page reports that several of Grant’s teammates and coaches see the similarities to Dorsey Levens that commentators have suggested.

“The number obviously is striking from that standpoint,” Favre said. [Clarification for Vikings fans: Levens also wore #25.] Favre continued: “He is a big, physical back, deceptively fast. He kind of sneaks up on you. I think his role in our passing game can evolve into what Dorsey’s role with us was. But he does remind me a lot of him.”

McCarthy said this: “As far as their frame, their history, their background, as far as where he played college, there are a lot of similarities.” And noted: “Brett said it the first week he was here.”

Grant is appropriately humble about the comparison. “I know what Dorsey did here. He was a great back, and what he accomplished was very big. So I definitely appreciate it. Honestly, I don’t know if I’m deserving of it.”

UPDATE: So apparently the folks at CBS Sportsline ripped off the Ryan Grant lines from this AP story written by Packers beat writer Chris Jenkins. In fact, they ripped off more than just the quotes. This is how the CBS write-up starts: “Brett Favre can’t help doing a double-take when he looks at Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant. True, Grant is a former undrafted free agent who was sent to Green Bay by the New York Giants just before the start of the season – and the Packers’ fourth choice to be their starting running back. But Favre still sees former teammate Dorsey Levens.”

And here is the AP story: “Brett Favre can’t help doing a double-take when he looks at Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant. True, Grant is a former undrafted free agent who was sent to Green Bay by the New York Giants just before the start of the season – and the Packers’ fourth choice to be their starting running back. But Favre still sees former teammate Dorsey Levens.”

I don’t know what the rules are governing use of the AP’s material and I’m sure CBS subscribes to the AP wire service. But isn’t it bogus to pass off someone else’s material as your own?